Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-16
CHARLESTON LETTER.
n Old Trick Worked Oh Unsuspecting
Farmers of the State.

CHARLESTON LETTER.
An Old Trick Worked Oh Unsuspecting
Farmers of the State.
Special Correspondence Of The Sun az Register.
CHARLESTON, October 15.-During the
past few months numerous letters from
New York have been received at various
post offices in this State by wealthy farm
ems, merchants and others, explaining how
a man can get rich or into the penltentary
without a great deal of sXeriOn. The ioi-
lowing was received last week by one Of
the wealthiest farmers OF this county, who
lives but short distance from this city.
1t explains itse!f and the sender asked
that reply be sent to well known num-
Der on Sixth avenue, New York city.
strictly CONFIDENTIAL
NEW YORK.
DEAR SIR: My confidential travelling
man, who happened to be in your section
of the country not very long ago, has writ
ten to NE that he thinks You would be o
good man to handle my bills He says
also that you are in excellent position to do
business for me, an that he does not think
you are the kind of man to betray trust.
The denominations are Ones, TwOs,
Elves, Tens aud Twenties. They were
printed from plates that were secured
from the U. S. Treasury Department by a
former workman in the engraving depart
ment. They cannot be told from genuine
until they work their way back to Wash
ington. If you will answer this letter at
once, and give me your solemn word and
honor that you will do me no harm, | will
explain to you as sensible business man,
how you can make large sums OF money
safely and rapidly, without the least dan
gel, and without even your intimate friends
knowing anything about it.
In answering sign your name and ad-
dress on separate piece of paper, as |
have done, or else return the envelope in
which this letter is sent, so that either
way will be sure to know who it is from.
If you received any other letters of this
nature return them to me, as they will
only be from my agents, and would have
to 20 through my hands at headquarters.
Having secured the above, and learning
that the receiver did not insist, your
correspondent visited Capt. All w. Bur
nett. Chief of the Eureka Detectives this
city, and learned from him that he knows
of many persons in this State who have in
vested their money with the expectation
of getting quantity of counterfeit money
for small sum of good money, but 10 no
instance does he know of any one coming
cut ahead except Holland, who killed Tom
Davis, in New York, two years ago. The
Captain says there is almost no counter
felt paper money in existence, and where
it does exist those who profess to have it
for sale, never trade through the mails,
but do it in other ways, as they are afraid
of the Government officers. II know"
said Captain Burnett, ''of some twelve or
fifteen good, sensible and substantial
men, of this county, as well as from other
counties, in this State, who have been
caught by this trick.
"Why, SIR" said he, cit has been but
very few months since prominent and
quite well to do farmer, who resides near
st. Adams, this county, received circular
similar to the one above quoted, and don't
you believe he placed a mortgage on his
comfortable home and productive farm in
order to raise $500 to invest in this unlaw
full money!"
Did he invest? l asked of Captain Bur
dett.
"Yes, " said he. "The farmer took his
$500 and went TO New York where he was
met by elegant gentlemen, who took him
to their office and showed him cords of
the best of greenbacks. He purchased
s., 600, paid $500 good dollars for it, pack
ed the purchase in his valise and was taken
to an express Office by one of the acccmmo-
dating gentlemen, where it was given to
the agent and a receipt handed the Kama
wha farmer in return. The farmer felt
good, )" to express it in his own language,
because he believed that his money had
been sent as directed He returned home
in due cOurse of time and began to look
about for investments. A few days after
his return, lie was notified that there was
package at the st. AihSns express office
for him. With light heart and bOCyant
step, he was soon at the office and secured
his precious package only TO learn that
there was miscellaneous assortment Of
old paper in the place of his expected
wealth. The express Office he visited, in
New York, was al institution gotten up
by the sharks who had caught our friend
from st. Albars, and was operated by the
gang for their own express purposes"
There were two other farmers from
West Virginia could name, " said Burnett,
who got letters and even samples of the
queer every dollar was good money.
They visited New York, bought large
amount and being pretty fly themselves,
would not even pay till they got safely on.
to a restaurant. They again examined
their purchase and paid 81, 200 cash there
for. All was loyely-they were rich. But
somehow gangof roughs came in on them
and few quiet blows laid out our heroes
and when they came to their senses, all
were gone. The short of it is that these
''sawdust" men are protected by gang
sufficiently strong and always ready to take
the money you once put down, il not by
trick, then by force. ''Let me saw to THE
REGISTER" tell our people to let such
bats alone under ali circumstances, for it
is utterly impossible to beat their games.
Besides that, it is a fact that not one per-
son in hundreds, ever profit by handling
counterfeit coin or currency. Once having
such stuff in possession, you feel like
criminal, and lose your manhood and peace
OF mind. Further, the United States Sc
cret Service is so carefully managed that
detection is certain to follow. The great
rule of life is that rascality does not often
prosper long.
Good Results in Every Case.
d. A. Bradford, wholesale paper dealer